Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Closes Out First Round of Big 12 Play
October 23, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2002
LUBBOCK, Texas - Tonight the Texas Tech volleyball team will finish out its first go-round of Big 12 Conference as it hosts the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m. in the United Spirit Arena.
Tech (7-11, 2-6) is in the midst of a four-match losing streak since upending the Missouri Tigers back on Oct. 5. Although the Red Raiders have not been on the winning side of the score of late, they have had their chances. Last week Tech traveled to College Station, Texas, and found itself down, 2-0, at the intermission. What came next was nothing short of the best volleyball the 2002 team has played.
Two games later, The Red Raiders were leading 11-7 in the fifth game but could not seal the deal. On Saturday, Tech and Colorado matched up in a tightly contested match that saw only one game end at the regular 30 points. Again, the Red Raiders had their chances but could not find the knockout blow.
Back at home tonight against the Sooners, Tech can finish its first round of conference matches on a positive that could propel them into the last leg of the season.
With all the parity in the Big 12 this season, Tech is just three games back of fifth and with a strong second half of conference play can find its way back into the battle. Laura Grote (Austin, Texas) is tied for second in the conference in assists per game at 12.47 after her career-high 72 assists against Colorado. Kelly Johnson (Fort Worth, Texas) is fourth in the conference in points per game, 5.06, and kills per game, 4.35, while sophomore Jessy Herrera (New Braunfels, Texas) ranks fourth in digs with 3.27 per game.
Oklahoma comes into tonight's match with 4-13 record overall and a 2-7 conference record. The Sooners are paced by setter Jessica Barney who has 527 assists on the season and leads the team with 20 solo blocks. Megan O'Connell is the team-leader in kills with 176 while Denise Griffin leads the team with 152 digs.
The Red Raiders will have this weekend off and conclude their home stand next Wednesday against Kansas State. In the first meeting between Tech and KSU, the Wildcats pulled off a come-from-behind victory in five games in Manhattan, Kan.
